Three Boards To Poll On Name

The Howick, Pakuranga and Botany Boards tonight jointly agreed to commission a professionally conducted telephone poll to gauge support for two alternative names for the East Auckland Ward and Local Board which has been given the name “Te Irirangi” by the Local Government Commission.

The decision was made at a second joint extraordinary meeting of the three Community Boards called by Councillor Michael Williams.

The poll will ask people if they prefer “Howick” or “Howick-Pakuranga-Botany” as the name for the new Super-City Ward and Local Board.

At the previous extraordinary meeting attended by around 300 people on 26 March the three boards jointly agreed to reject the name “Te Irirangi” in favour of either “Howick” or “Howick-Pakuranga-Botany”. Although a majority of the public at the meeting supported the name “Howick”, it was felt that as the meeting was held in Howick, some other mechanism should be employed to ensure a democratic outcome.

“The advantage of a telephone poll is that it is scientifically based”, says Councillor Williams, “with sampling to be carried out evenly across the whole geographic area. We are sure that the people of Howick want the whole area to be called Howick, but the people of Pakuranga and Botany may have a different view and we want to know what that view is before recommending a single name to the Minister of Local Government.”

The poll follows an internet survey of 3,500 people that showed that 96% of respondents opposed the name Te Irirangi.

“It is heartening to see the unity of elected members on this issue, with our two MP’s, six councillors and the vast majority of our 15 Community Board Members on board.” says Councillor Williams, “This is bodes well for the new East Auckland Local Board to be established on 1 November to make local decisions for the Howick-Pakuranga-Botany area that are currently made by Manukau City Council.”

Hon Maurice Williamson has agreed to bring the request to change the name before the Minister of Local Government and Parliament.

The cost of the poll will be around $3,700 which will be met one third each by the three Community Boards.

ENDS

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